MISFIT ❁ ALEX ALVAREZ

The Man ✰

"Encantada." Lydia greeted, holding out her hand for him to shake.

"Ah, una Española." He replied, shaking her hand

"Your Spanish is very good." She complimented

"Escobar was an old friend. Such a shame what happened." He said

Alex and I looked at each other, horrified.

Alex cleared his throat and held out his hand, "Hi, I'm Alex. Nice suit."

"Oh, thank you. A little boy like you made it for me." He replied

I grabbed the corner of Alex's jacket, to restrain myself from making a comment.

"He's also the orphan's girlfriend. Pretty dysfunctional don't you think?" I laughed, trying to be nice and let my adoptive grandad know about my life

"Not surprising. The less fortunate always seem to stick together." He laughed

I gripped Alex's jacket tighter, and he rubbed my shoulder.

"So this is what a typical unit looks like, huh?" He asked

Schneider rushed to turn off the light, and his dad nodded, "Much better"

"Looks like you two were about to check out our new, top-of-the-line laundry room." Schneider said to Lydia and Alex.

"I think I'll go with them." I said, fake smiling

"Run along now. And don't give me that rent late. And be home by curfew little Annie." Schneider said, opening the door for us

"Don't push it." I warned Schneider, who whispered a little apology and shut the door.

"Oh, what happened? Everything is so different." Lydia said, as we walked into the new laundry room.

"Yeah, they replaced the old machines that shook so hard they moved across the room." Alex noted

"Pero, that's how I knew the spin cycle was over." Lydia sighed

One of the dryers played a little jingle, making me smile, "Schneider programmed them to play different songs when they're done." 

"Don't quit your day job, dryer." Lydia said

Lydia took one of the baskets and dumped it into the wash, "Okay, and where do I put the quarters?"

"You pay with your phone." Alex explained

Lydia looked at him, but threw her phone in the wash, "So dumb!"

"You'll got used to it, Abuelita." Alex reassured

"Ay, your mother never empties her pockets." Lydia said pulling out money, and then stuffing it in her bra

"Y qué es esto?" Lydia questioned, pulling out weed and a weed pin from Penelope's clothes pockets

"Uh... Looks like a pen set and some catnip." Alex lied

"Are you freaking serious." I asked

Lydia sniffed the bag, "Dios mío! It is las drogas."

"No! Why do you think that's drug stuff?" Alex lied, again.

"I gotta go, I'll see you later Lydia." I said rushing to the door, biting my lip to keep from hitting him

"Aria, Wait." Alex said, trying to stop me.

"Screw you Alex." I said, my words laced with venom

I turned around, and stormed down the hallway

__________

"Please let me in." I heard Alex ask from outside my room.

"Why?" I asked, sitting at my desk

"Please." He begged

"Alex, I....what's wrong?" I asked, opening the door and noticing Alex's tears.

"Can we please talk?" He asked, sniffing.

"Damn you and your puppy dog eyes." I said, letting him in.

"I'm sorry. The weed wasn't new, I swear. It was the old weed my mom found in my room." He said

"Alex, I can't go through another person I love being addicted to something so stupid." I admitted grabbing his hand, and leading him to sit next to me.

"I promise I'll never do it again, but seeing the way Abuelita looked at me when she realized it was mine, broke my heart. I feel like such a failure." He said wiping his eyes, trying to hide his tears.

"Alex, you're allowed to cry. I know how much Lydia means to you." I assured, holding his hand.

"You mean a lot to me too. A lot, a lot." He said

"Just don't do this stupid crap anymore, okay?" I asked, looking at him

"I promise." He said putting his head on my shoulder.

"I know sometimes I can be a bitch about this stuff, but I really care about you." I said

___________

Later that night, I sat with Schneider on the couch watching TV.

"Do you think of me as an orphan that you just have to deal with?" I asked

"What?" Schneider questioned, shocked.

"I mean, do I feel like a burden to you?" I explained

"What? No. And don't let my dad's word get to your head. When you left, I told him you weren't just an orphan, you're my daughter, kiddo." He said

"Promise?" I asked

"Kid, listen to me. You are one of the only people who's kept me sober. I would never think of you as an orphan." He swore

"Thanks, Schneider." I smiled, "Speaking of alcohol, what happened to the insensitive gift your dad gave you."

"Ah, I don't know. I think I threw it away." He said

"Alright, Im glad you weren't tempted. I'm gonna head to bed." I smiled, patting his shoulder

"Night, kid." He said

I smiled at him one last time, and turned to my room.

__________

Oop. Sorry I've been gone so long. I've been so busy with school, but now that I'm on break I have time to write. Also, I got Disney+ and I am binge watching all the Star Wats movies 😂